CHUCH PAINTER
I am Martinus Sasse from Tallinn, an expert painter and church decorator. I can paint pictures, prepare glass windows and make wooden artefacts to decorate the holy chambers. I can mix beautiful colours well: brown, yellow, red, black and white. If the subscriber can afford it, I can also obtain expensive colours, like bright blue. I have diligently studied the model charts and I know how to portray the characters and Saints of the Holy Bible.
By chance I have already been in Turku for two months now, ever since Heikki’s fair in June 1419. The gentlemen in Tallinn recommended me, when they wanted a painter to decorate the Chapel of Holy Bartholomew in the Turku Cathedral. It was said that a wealthy widow by the name Gertrud had donated a house and some money to establish the altar of Saint Andrew to save the souls of her and her husband and in honour of God. Every day I have stood on the racks painting the pictures of those who donated the altar. Next I intend to paint the picture of Holy Andrew and do a series of the finding of the Cross. Luckily, it is still light and the work is easier. I also have an assistant a youngster from Turku by the name Petrus who I am teaching this work. His job is to spread chalk porridge to make a good prime on which I will do the painting myself. I am a bit worried, what the honourable father bishop Magnus will think of this work once it is finished. May the Holy Lucas help me with my work.
Holy Andreas, a wall painting in the Turku Cathedral
LINKS
The contruction history of the Turku Cathedral
